Chromium as a Linux alternative to Microsoft Edge (Legacy Collections, IE mode)
Updated
Our verdict
Chromium is a solid replacement for Microsoft Edge (Legacy Collections, IE mode) if you don't need IE mode or Windows-specific enterprise features. It handles modern web content well, supports Chrome extensions, and offers strong performance and security. However, it won't run legacy internal sites requiring Internet Explorer compatibility. For general browsing and organizing web content via extensions or bookmarks, Chromium works well on Linux. It’s best for users who prioritize open-source software and don’t rely on Windows-only enterprise tools.
- License
- BSD-3-Clause and LGPL-2.1+ and…
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 156.0.8078.47 (October 20, 2026)
- Rating
- —

What works the same
- Both are based on the same open-source Chromium engine
- Support for modern web standards, HTML5, and JavaScript
- Tabbed browsing and bookmarking for organizing web content
- Extension support via Chrome Web Store
- Fast rendering and responsive interface
What is different
- Chromium lacks IE mode, critical for legacy internal sites
- No built-in Collections feature for saving and organizing content
- No integration with Microsoft accounts or Windows sync
- No proprietary Microsoft telemetry or enterprise management tools
- Available on Linux; Edge Legacy is Windows-only
Opening your Microsoft Edge (Legacy Collections, IE mode) files
Chromium can import bookmarks and browsing history from most browsers, including Chromium-based ones. However, there's no direct way to import Microsoft Edge (Legacy Collections, IE mode) Collections or IE-specific settings. You’d need to manually export saved links or use a third-party tool. Passwords and settings from Edge won’t transfer automatically to Chromium on Linux. Compatibility with proprietary Edge export formats is not guaranteed.
Switching from Microsoft Edge (Legacy Collections, IE mode) to Chromium, step by step
- Install Chromium via your distro’s package manager or Flathub
- Export bookmarks from Microsoft Edge as an HTML file
- Import the HTML file into Chromium under bookmarks
- Manually recreate any Collections as bookmark folders
- Install needed Chrome Web Store extensions in Chromium
- Test critical sites; note that IE-mode sites will not work
Key features of Chromium
- Open-source core of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge
- Fast rendering engine with strong JavaScript performance
- Full support for Chrome Web Store extensions
- Regular security updates and stable release cycles
- Available via Flathub, Snap, and native distro packages
- No proprietary telemetry or forced Google account sign-in
How to install Chromium on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.chromium.Chromiumsudo apt install chromium-browsersudo apt install chromiumsudo dnf install chromiumsudo pacman -S chromiumsudo zypper install chromiumFrequently asked questions
Can Chromium run websites that require Internet Explorer?
No. Chromium does not support ActiveX, old IE rendering engines, or IE mode. You’ll need Wine, a Windows VM, or a dual-boot setup for such sites.
Can I use Chrome extensions in Chromium?
Yes. Most Chrome Web Store extensions work in Chromium, including ad blockers and password managers.
Is Chromium the same as Google Chrome?
No. Chromium is the open-source base. Chrome adds Google services, tracking, and proprietary codecs. Chromium lacks those by default.
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